It doesn't feel safe
 

About 36 hours ago, I put together a freewheeling, shifting, coasting bike with both front and rear brakes. I've been riding it around town, and on the Critical Mass last night.

I can't quite explain why, but this feels a whole lot more dangerous than riding a brakeless track bike. I wrecked a bunch of times riding home from the third after-bar last night. Today, I noticed that yeah, I could go faster, but it kept feeling like something was broken, and clipping in and out was really pretty weird. I'm used to the motion of the pedals helping with that. I also keep forgetting that I have gears, so I just stick in about what I have on my fix. I think that's part of why I was having trouble last night (besides the booze). I left it in a really low gear from the slow mass, and it was way too light for me to get enough speed to stay upright.

I don't know, it just seems strange to me that I feel safer brakeless and fixed. Most people are probably the opposite. Anyone else feel like this getting back on a road bike after a few years of just riding fixed?

i think it's pretty common.
after riding fixed for an extended period of time, i feel a dangerous lack of control on a free wheel.

the last time i rode a SS i thought it was fixed, and when i started coasting around a corner i put a squeeze on the brake levers, which ended up being MUCH too hard.

my tailbone really hated me for that one.

but yeah, i agree. i feel much safer when i can't coast.

Same here. Freewheeling feels dangerous after riding fixed daily. Like you're in freefall or something...

Good to know I'm not alone. The bike is mainly supposed to be for longer/hillier rides, so it won't see much daily city riding once I get the Bianchi back from my brother.

I get paranoid about stuff pretty easily...

I haven't been riding fixed as long as probably any of you, but when i get on my bmx or road bike, I feel like something is definantly broken. Once I even got off the bike before I was off my street to check it out.

For me, the freewheel freakout really begins in earnest when I'm splitting a lane and moving up on traffic. I don't have that postive feedback with the surface to tell me that I'm in control.

Freefall is really the best metaphor I've seen. I don't feel like I have the necessary inputs to control myself in that situation.

I rode my room mates mountain bike today, haven't been on one in two years, and it was the most difficult thing just getting into the toe clips... plus the whole bike felt so heavy and clunky, well... the bike was heavy and clunky, but it felt even more so from the change. I'm never riding that thing again.

i did a triathlon after riding my fixed solid for a couple of months last year right when i got it, to say the least, i was pretty much pedaling the whole 15 mile segment which was nice. but riding a freewheel is scary.

i have WAY more control on my fixie gear with just my legs rather than depending on brakes etc... to control my speed. everyone i explain my bike to thinks it is a bit absurd. then they try it. and then they want to ride it everytime i am over.

The thing that freaks me out is when I get back on the fixie after riding a coastie for a while. For the first few minutes I almost forget I can't coast anymore. I also find that when I have a freewheel and brakes, I stop looking 3 blocks ahead and start looking 3 feet ahead.

eh...fixed makes you lazy....i like having the pedal brought to my foot rather than having to push it around myself...alos, the momentum of the bike definately makes uphills easier

oh yeah and the last time i was home and took my mtb for a spin in the drive way....i was gonna show off to my borther and ride at him full speed and skid....needless to say, when i tried to lock of the rear wheel....i didnt skid

.....went through my brother...and through the garage door

no fun

lmao

Road all around today on a sweet Trek 520 with 700x38's and some cantis on it. Freewheelin singlespeed. Went to the ol'May Day parade (yes, through the beautiful Minnesota snow) and had a freakin' ball riding **** I'd never ride on my or someone else's fixie. Bombing some hills and almost got run into by a kid flying a kite.

Riding flat pedals? Forget about it.
I almost crashed two nights ago cuz I tried bunny hoping a Kona Scab buit up with downhill wheels and Magura hydralic brakes. My foot done slipped offa the pedal, ma!

My new roomate is awesome. My sister get's to ride him, I get to ride his bikes.

same sensation here. i kind of put away the road bike last october and rode fixed only from october till march of this year when i bought a pinarello cross frame and built it up as a SS freewheel commuter bike.

the first few rides, i could hardly believe the lack of control i felt.

it threw me off that you had to have your hands on the bar in a certain position in order to regulate your speed and everything just felt squirrely and kind of lose somehow.

anyway, of course i was used to it within a few days and am back to flying through traffic every day and appreciating the quick stops and coasting.

How about the bombing of the hills? Are you appreciating that?

What with the hands othe tops of the bars near the stem, elbows tucked in. Pedals levelled with the knees tucked.
Buzzbomb cornered at the 711.

i'm appreciating the quick roadie-style cornering.

the way you can lean way into a corner. feels like you're turning at 45 degrees.

The mantis tuck? I want to put on a freewheel just so I can bomb some streets on my track bike, but I don't want to spring for the extra brake caliper.

It's tons of fun to draft cars at 45mph, though. Now I kinda wish I didn't sell my geared roadie.

i love standing up on a freewheeled bike and kinda floating...you know....flying down hill and zigzagging...fun stuff

My dear god: riding a 2:1 ss mtb in town all winter was pure drudgery. Fixed, skinny tires, springtime, all these things are marvelous. But if I know I'm gonna go out drinkin', I'll take my ss. Something about spinning head and slowed reaction time makes v-brakes and coasting very attractive.

I know what you mean. After riding fixed for almost a year, I picked up a 10sp Raleigh at a flea market and the firs time I got on it ... well, freefalling is a good way of putting it. I still find myself trying to use my legs to control my speed even after riding for a few hours. I also notice a definately drop in awareness. Friday I was on my way to work and started to adjest my brake tension when I saw the car to my right move forward and I went forward a bit, thinking the light had turned... it hadn't. Had a bit of a shock when a car flew in font of me with it's horn on. I couldn't believe I did that! I kept thinking ... if I didn't have this stupid brake! :) (of course I had to blame it on an inanimate object!)